Events

This is a hybrid meeting:

• Join us in person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) in Geneva Hall. Please use the Garden Entrance on Elgin Street. Limited free street parking is available on Saturdays, and the City Hall Parking Garage is available for $2.00.
• Join online by registering here.
  

This registration covers all events.

Paper, Photos, and the Unexpected: What do Museums and Archives Want from Family Historians? / 9 a.m. EDT

Panellists: Canadian War Museum - Arlene Doucette, Collections Specialist, Dress and Insignia & Alain Simard, Collections Specialist, Archives; Pontiac Archives - Jon Stewart

Family historians often inherit papers, photographs, heirlooms, medals, uniforms, tools, letters, and other objects whose historical value may not be obvious. How can these materials be preserved for future generations, and what belongs in an archive or museum?

In this panel discussion, Arlene Doucette, Collections Specialist, Dress and Insignia and Alain Simard, Collections Specialist, Archives, from the War Museum, and Jon Stewart, volunteer with the Pontiac Archives will share practical advice on identifying historically significant items and deciding when donations may be appropriate. Learn what kinds of documents and artifacts are most sought after, what institutions can and cannot accept, and how seemingly ordinary family items can help tell the larger story of a community, occupation, migration, faith tradition, or era.

Small Moments / 10 a.m. EDT

What is a Small Moment in Genealogy? A Small Moment is significant, but it’s smaller,  and less earth-shattering than a Great Moment. We’ve defined a small moment as a short story about an interesting finding from your ancestry, such as an event, a person or an object that adds detail to your family story. Blended with anecdotes, photos, a bit of historical context, a map, or a family tree, a small moment can be like a personal Heritage Minute. You could call it a family history vignette.

A Mirror to the Past - Carol Annett

A Tragedy that Triggered a Wedding - Paul Cripwell

An Elusive Nephew - John Reid

My Granny's Bible - Nancy Higgins

When is a Horse Not a Horse? - Gil Croome

A Suite Story Uncovered - Dianne Brydon

Drop-in Chat Thursday, 17 September 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. EDT

September social time - drop in and join us at the White Pine Café in the lobby of Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church at 225 McClellan Road, off Greenbank Road.

This is a hybrid meeting:

• Join us in person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) in Geneva Hall. Please use the Garden Entrance on Elgin Street. Limited free street parking is available on Saturdays, and the City Hall Parking Garage is available for $2.00.
• Online registration will be available.

This registration covers all events.

Preserving Family Archives/ 9 a.m. EDT

Presenter: Kyla Ubbink

Family documents, photographs, clippings, works of art, diaries, bibles, trinkets and treasures are the physical evidence that tell the stories of our ancestors. As genealogists, many of these pieces of history wind up in your care and knowing how to preserve them is paramount to ensuring their longevity. Kyla Ubbink will advise on implementing archival principles of preservation to the care of family memorabilia. Current and up to date practices for storing archival materials, how to detect processes of deterioration, and methods of intervention will be shared within the context of practical ‘at home’ application. Topics include proper boxes and enclosures, the use of albums, shelving, climate control, pest and mould prevention, basic cleaning and repair, and introduction to digitization.

Operating a private conservation studio since 2002, Kyla Ubbink began her career through an internship with the Library and Archives Canada’s conservation laboratories in 2000 and subsequent contract positions through to 2005. Her private practice, Ubbink Book & Paper Conservation, provides professional conservation, restoration and preservation consultation services to institutions, galleries, antiquities dealers, collectors, researchers and genealogists. Kyla’s work has been integral to the collections of the Canadian War Museum, Canadian Museum of Natural History, Parks Canada, Bank of Canada, Global Affairs, Crown and Indigenous Affairs, and numerous University, archive, rare book, and art gallery collections.

Kyla was a part time professor of Cultural Preservation for Algonquin College’s Archives and Records Management Program from 2007 through 2019. She has several publications in professional periodicals, is a regular presenter at conservation conferences, and provides workshops and lectures for community groups and heritage professionals. Kyla recently served on a Canadian Standards Review Board to assess and update the standard for “Permanence of Paper for Records, Books and Other Documents”. She has also fulfilled the role of treasurer and secretary for the Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property’s Board of Directors.

Casting the Past: Historical Storytelling / 10 a.m. EDT

Presenter: Pierre Brault

How do playwrights research their historical theatre productions? Ottawa actor/playwright Pierre Brault will describe the process he used to discover background information for his historical works featuring Patrick Whelan, Thomas MacKay and Colonel By, the central figures in three of his plays. Pierre will explain how he uses this information to animate their lives on the stage and will read from some of his most well-known works.

Pierre Brault is a multi-award winning actor/ playwright/ comedian whose solo works have been performed across the globe. http://www.pierrebrault.com/

Drop-in Chat Thursday, 15 October 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. EDT

October social time - drop in and join us at the White Pine Café in the lobby of Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church at 225 McClellan Road, off Greenbank Road.

BIFHSGO is thrilled to announce our upcoming Virtual Conference, featuring the evocative theme, Flittin' Day: Forces That Moved Our Scottish Ancestors.

Moved by economic hardship, social clearance, or the promise of new horizons, our ancestors' decisions to relocate shaped history and families across generations. This year’s conference dives deep into the forces behind Scottish migration and emigration, offering expert speakers with invaluable insights and practical strategies to help you trace your family line back to their homelands in Scotland.

Our virtual conference will feature a distinguished lineup of exceptional experts in the fields of Scottish history and genealogy, including the following:

• Sir Thomas Devine: Keynote speaker, renowned historian, author, and Professor Emeritus at The University of Edinburgh.

• Professor Graeme Morton: Author, Professor of Modern History, and Director of the Centre for Scottish Culture at the University of Dundee, as well as former Chair of the Centre for Scottish Studies at Guelph University.

• Alison Spring: Professional genealogist, international speaker, and the creator of The Frugal Family Historian blog.

• Morag Peers: Professional genealogist and the Director of Scottish Studies at the International Institute for Genealogical Studies.

• Chris Fleet: Map Curator at the National Library of Scotland.
• Dr. Frances Wilkins, Senior Lecturer in Ethnomusicology at the Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen, and a professional musician.
• Marjory Harper, Professor of History, Aberdeen University and Visiting Professor at the Centre for History, University of the Highlands and Islands.

Stay tuned! Full speaker profiles and registration details will be revealed on the Conference website.

This is a hybrid meeting:

• Join us in person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) in Geneva Hall. Please use the Garden Entrance on Elgin Street. Limited free street parking is available on Saturdays, and the City Hall Parking Garage is available for $2.00.
• Online registration will be available.

This registration covers all events.

A Life Lost, A Face Found / 9 a.m. EST

Presenter: Sara MacKenzie

There are moments in archival research when records stop being just names and start becoming real people. It is even more meaningful when you learn an ancestor’s story, look into their eyes and see your own family reflected back.

Sara MacKenzie will trace her search for her great-granduncle, Donald McKenzie of Horton Township, whose name and story had disappeared from family history. The search began with a will found at the Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives near Ottawa and led through WWI military records, Western Canada newspapers, and archival photographs to uncover the story of a young man whose life was cut tragically short, just as he was building a future of his own. The final breakthrough brought Sara full circle—back to the Archives where she volunteers. 

Born and raised in Renfrew, with deep Scottish and Irish settler roots in the Ottawa Valley, Sara MacKenzie is President of the Arnprior & McNab/Braeside Archives and a long-time volunteer with a passion for local history, genealogy, and preserving community stories. More about Sara: https://www.adarchives.org/volunteers/sara-board-president/

Lilian: the challenges of researching and writing the true story of a Secret Radio Operator in WW2 France / 10 a.m. EST

Presenter: Paul McCue

Author Paul McCue will relate the tragic true story of Lilian Rolfe, a secret radio operator in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War.  He’ll include information about the Canadian agent, previously trained at Camp X, who trained with her in England. Along the way, he will emphasize the many challenges he encountered in researching and writing the biography.

Paul McCue, born in Yorkshire and educated there, in Surrey, and at the University of Birmingham, graduated in International Studies and worked across the public and private sectors, including eleven years as an Armed Forces Advisor, before retiring as Managing Director of a London-based leisure and culture company. A military historian and writer for more than 30 years, he has authored six books and specializes in Second World War special operations, particularly the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Since retiring in 2018, Paul has devoted himself full-time to SECRET WW2, an educational charity focused on clandestine warfare, intelligence, resistance, and special forces history, where he serves as Executive Trustee, lecturer, consultant, and guide. He regularly presents internationally, has launched projects across several countries, and remains active in military and historical organizations.

Drop-in Chat Thursday, 19 November 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. EDT

November social time - drop in and join us at the White Pine Café in the lobby of Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church at 225 McClellan Road, off Greenbank Road.

This is a hybrid meeting:

• Join us in person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) in Geneva Hall. Please use the Garden Entrance on Elgin Street. Limited free street parking is available on Saturdays, and the City Hall Parking Garage is available for $2.00.
• Online registration will be available.

This registration covers all events.

Holiday Social / 9 a.m. EST

Do you have a volume that changed how you advanced your family history? We are looking for recommendations of books that have influenced your work in specific ways, such as:

• Breaking through a long-standing research brick wall
• Introducing you to a novel methodology or underutilized record type.
• Providing essential historical or social context for your ancestors' lives.
• Offering a compelling narrative structure that inspired your own family history writing.
• Serving as an indispensable, frequently consulted reference guide.

For our upcoming December social, we invite all members to share their most influential "genie" books. This is an opportunity to discover practical new resources and discuss the literature that advances our research.

Send the title, a screenshot of the cover, and 3 sentences about why you selected this book and how it helped your research. to programs@bifhsgo.ca   We'll compile the submissions and invite discussion among attendees during the social.

Great Moments in Genealogical Research / 10 a.m. EST

Who's His Daddy? DNA: Proof - or Probability

Presenter: Bruce Beanlands

Bruce Beanlands explores a long-standing family mystery; identifying the father of his 2x-great-grandfather in 19th-century Yorkshire. He describes how traditional genealogical research and DNA evidence were combined to identify a likely family, while illustrating both the power and the limitations of genetic genealogy in resolving historical questions.

Bruce Beanlands, a newer BIFHSGO member, has over 25 years of genealogy experience, tracing his West Yorkshire roots to the 1400s and Devon to the 1600s. A retired federal public servant with a background in IT and research analysis, he blends technical and traditional methods, with interests in genetic genealogy, heraldry, medieval wills, and military history—focusing on both facts and the stories behind them. He is currently serving as a BIFHSGO Director-at-Large and leads the DNA SIG. 

My research trip to far-away Ottawa and Kingston 

Presenter: Wesley Johnston

The ups and downs of following Loyalist ancestor footsteps in Ernestown (now named Loyalist) Township and then researching at the Archives in Ottawa. Meeting the mosquitos whose ancestors bit my ancestors. 

Wesley Johnston inherited the Pickering Township Thomas Johnston Family Bible in 1954 and has been searching out his ancestors and cousins ever since. He holds Master’s degrees in Mathematics and History. He has written numerous articles and given numerous presentations. He is the administrator of the Loyalist Lake research group and several DNA projects. His book, Family Thickets: Deep Family and Local History, shares his experience from more than a dozen family thicket projects in six countries. It is one of his 31 books on family history, World War II history and art history. 
His website is at http://www.wwjohnston.net/famhist.

Drop-in Chat Thursday, 17 December 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. EDT

December social time - drop in and join us at the White Pine Café in the lobby of Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church at 225 McClellan Road, off Greenbank Road.